Adjustable reading and writing table for furniture



L. L. ANTHES Dec. I2; 395@ ADJUSTABLE READING AND WRITING TABLE FORFURNITURE Filed Nov. 12,, 1946 Inven ior Patented Dec. 12, 1950ADJUSTABLE READING AND WRITING TABLE FOR FURNITURE Lawrence L. Anthes,Toronto Qntario, Qanada Application November 12, 1946, Serial-No.709,236.. In Canada. November: l6, 194 5 6 Claims. (01.

This invention relates to a device for the use of. invalids or personswho, while resting in bed or in a comfortable chair, may desire tosupport reading, or writing material in a position which wi11- becomfortable and convenient and which will. relieve the person of thestress of holding such material and will form a rest for the arms.

Lhe principal object of the invention is to provide a table which may beeasily and quickly adjusted topositions close to the body at an easy andrestful angle. to permit the person using same tov move freely and toprovide adjustable means. for. holding such table in pos'ition'so thatit maybe quickly moved clear of the bed or chair.

The. principal feature of the invention consists in the novelconstruction of a board'having depending legs on opposite sides adaptedto straddle the body of the person to support the board from a bed orchair, the board being movably supported in an inclined position by aflexible cord extending from the upper corners of the table around theframe of the bed or chair.

A further feature of importance consists in providing an adjustableoverhead extension from the'bed or chair and a flexible suspension meansfor supporting the table in aninclined position or in a position clearof the person if desired.

In' the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved table shown in an operative position upon a bed.

Figure 2 is a small side elevational view showing the application of my.improved table to an easy chair.

Figure 3 is an enlarged part plan detail of one side of the board of myimproved device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through One. of; the side bars ofthe frame of the board showing one, of the, adjustable spring clipsthereon.

'Figure 5. is an enlarged sectional detail of. a portion of the boardand side frame showing the detail of a shelf attachment to the board.

The invention as herein illustrated comprises a board lformed of alighttough material such as Masonite and which is of a width greater than thewidth of a normal sized person and is formed with a curved bottom edgewhich terminates in a pair of rounded legs 2, the curved edge and legsbeing adapted to span a persons body in bed or in a chair so that thelegs rest upon the top of the bed or the seat surface of the chair.

The board I is preferably provided, as here shown, with tubular top andside edges formed of a length of tubing 3 of thin metal or plastic av na 9i 4. cut n. its nw de to. e e ve. the edge of the board.

T bu r fit g em e e side. r ions of the tube 3 adjacent to the top andth seare PM". vided with suitable yes 6. to which the ends of a;flexible cord 1. are. attached. The loop 8 of} th d i a s d a ou d. thed. nd, 9 f a bed. fra eo r und e ac m of a cha and ide n it ble e es o tr guides o edon; the. frame or. chair. This. cord is of such length stovsu o t t eup e edg f he ard- I ate. suitable anglewith the legs .2resting on the b ed j or chair straddling the person using it and by; si t th less the board m y e a us ed. at. different angles from theperpendicular or in, transverse relation to the bed or, chair. 'When atransverse adjustment is made the loop of the cord will slip freelythrough the eyes II on the bed or chair. frame.

The board frame is, here, shown with light. tubular. frames 12 arrangedat either side. These. frames are connected at one end to the. top.tubular fittings 5 which are adapted to swivel 0n the side bars. andthe. other'endsf are;

. connected to. the frame sides by similar tubular fittings 13. Asuitable thumb screw Ill may" be threaded in each of the fittings l3 tosecure the side frames in adjusted positions; The frames: l2 when turnedat right angles to the board? I 1 form rests to support the table inal'iorizontal position over thepersons body or legs.

Mounted on the 'side'members of the frame are spring clips IE whichmaybe moved to various positions on said sides. Elastic cords IE, 'orcords in' which coil springs I! are arranged; are connected at oneend'to the adjustable clips l5. and extend across the "board I and theother ends are connected to the eyes of the fittings 5; These crosscordsmay thus be adjusted to over-l lie'th'e pages or" n'o'pe'n book ormagazine 'or othefpapeisplaced on the table and suoh'book' may befurther secured" independent of. these; cross 'cordsbva spring jaw'clip"18', the board being provided witha slotopening I'9,"theedg'e ofwhich'ihay be gripped along the cove by theb ipla. A'bed'or chair may beprovided with a tubular upright 29 arranged centrally of the widththereof and a right angular extension 2! therefrom carries at its outerend a pulley 22.

A suitable clip or other fastening member 23 is connected midway of theWidth of the board l at its upper edge and to this is connected a cord24 which passes over the pulley 22.

A pulley 24' is arranged at the juncture of the horizontal extension 2!and the upright and the cord extends thereover and passes downwardlyinto the upright and is connected to a counterweight 25 whichsubstantially counterbalances the total weight of the board so that ifthe board is lifted up from its position on the bed the counterweightwill retain it in the raised position.

The horizontal angular extension 21 of the tubular upright is here showntelescopic so that the position of the end of the cord dependingtherefrom may be altered to permit of adjustment of the position of theboard I relative to the bed end and the person resting therein.

Another feature of my device comprises a shelf 25, the end edges ofwhich are provided with spring clips 27 which will readily spring overthe tubular side bars of the frame of the board thus providing ahorizontal shelf when the main board surface is arranged in asubstantially vertical position. This may be removed or placed inposition at will.

It may be found that when this device is applied to a chair the arms maybe too close together to permit the legs 2 to rest on the seat surfaceand in order to permit the table to be used the legs 2 are formed withtransversely hinged joints 28 which permit the legs to fold into anangular position to rest upon the chair arms.

Suitable sliding clips 29 are provided on the outer edges of the board Iwhich will engage the upper outer edges of the legs to hold them extended and when the legs are to be folded as described it is merelynecessary to slide these clips free of the cross hinge joint. The sidesof the clips 2!] allow a certain flexibility of the joint.

A device such as described has been found to be a great boon to personscompelled to rest in bed or in chairs for long periods as it enablesthem to read or write or draw with great comfort without straining thearms or back and the table may also be used at meal times by using theside frames as supporting legs.

When the person using the device desires to be free from it he merelylifts it up out of the way where is is held suspended and ready forreplacement at any time.

The flexibility of the joints in the legs 2 obviates the transference ofvibration to the board when such is used on a moving vehicle and enablesthe user to write with great comfort.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A table adapted to be used with an article of furniture. comprising aboard having legs extending downwardly at either side, a tubular frameembracing the side and top edges of said board, fittings rotatablymounted on the side members of said frame adjacent to the top and bottomends thereof, and frames secured to said rotatable fittings andextending substantially parallel with said frame sides.

2. A table adapted to be used with an article of furniture, comprising aboard adapted to rest upon the article of furniture and to extendupwardly therefrom, an arm supported by said article of furniture andprojecting laterally above said board, a flexible suspension connectedbetween said arm and board to suspend same, a counterbalance connectedwith said suspension, flexible means connecting the sides of said boardwith said article of furniture, said flexible suspension and flexiblemeans holding said board to form a supporting surface extendingtransversely of said article of furniture and permitting and guiding themovement of said board in any direction laterally or vertically of saidarticle of furniture or rotatively relative thereto.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2- in which said flexible meansconnecting the sides of said board comprises a flexible cord secured atthe ends to opposite sides of the board and passing around and freelyslidable relative the back of said article of furniture.

4. A table adapted to be used with an article of furniture comprising aboard having legs hingedly connected thereto at either side thereof andadapted to support said board on an article of furniture, clips bridgingthe hinges connecting said board and legs, said clips having resilientsides engaging opposite faces of said board and legs with said legsextended to form. with said hinges, connections between said board andlegs having a flexibility to dampen transfer of vibrations from saidlegs to said board while returning said legs to an extended positionupon displacement therefrom under vibration.

5. A table adapted to be used with an article of furniture comprising aboard having legs hinged thereto at either side thereof and adapted tosupport said board on an article of furniture, clips normally engagingsaid board and legs and bridging the hinge connection therebetween andhaving sides engaging opposite faces of said board and legs with saidlegs extended resiliently resisting movement of said legs from anextended position while permitting such movement under impact to dampentransfer of vibrations from said legs to said board and acting to returnsaid legs to the extended position upon displacement therefrom.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which said lips are pivoted to saidboard and are movable from a position bridging said hinge connections toa position clear of said hinges to permit said legs to be swung from anextended position.

LAWRENCE L. ANTHES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,550,981 McGarrity Aug. 25, 19251,867,498 Craig July 12, 1932 1,928,806 Barcalo Oct. 3, 1933 1,938,638Ponten et al Dec. 12, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,571Great Britain 1912 379,543 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1932

